Month: June 2005

Umstrittenes neues Strafrecht in der Turkei in Kraft
9194.html
01.06.2005, 10:12
Journalistenverbände: Meinungsfreiheit wird geknebelt
Istanbul, 1. Juni (AFP) – In der Turkei ist am Mittwoch
ein umstrittenes neues Strafgesetzbuch in Kraft getreten. Das
Gesetzespaket, das rechtsstaatliche Normen nach Vorgaben der EU bringen
soll und nach letzten Änderungen in der vergangenen Woche vom Parlament
verabschiedet worden war, lost das 80 Jahre alte bisherige Strafrecht
ab. Trotz einiger rechtsstaatlicher Verbesserungen ist das neue
Strafrecht umstritten, weil es die Meinungs- und die Pressefreiheit
einschränkt. Nach turkischen Medienberichten konnte Staatspräsident
Ahmet Necdet Sezer das neue Strafgesetzbuch schon in den kommenden
Tagen per Veto wieder aufheben.
Das neue Strafrecht verschärft die Strafen fur Folterer und schafft
die bisher geltenden Strafnachlässe fur so genannte “Ehrenmorde” ab.
Gleichzeitig sind aber Beschränkungen fur die Meinungsfreiheit und
die Presse vorgesehen. So ermoglicht ein Paragraf, dass Kritik an
staatlichen Grundsatzpositionen mit bis zu zehn Jahren Haft bestraft
werden kann – als Beispiel hatte die Regierung die Forderung nach
einem turkischen Truppenruckzug aus Zypern und nach einer Anerkennung
des Volkermordes an den Armeniern genannt. Der Chef des turkischen
Presserates, Oktay Eksi, macht der Regierung von Ministerpräsident
Recep Tayyip Erdogan deshalb schwere Vorwurfe.
Die Reform des Strafrechts war eine der Hauptforderungen der EU
an die Beitrittsbewerberin Turkei in den letzten Jahren und ist
eine der Voraussetzungen fur den Beginn von Beitrittsgesprächen
im Oktober. Die Einschränkung der Meinungsfreiheit war in den
letzten Monaten jedoch bereits von fuhrenden EU-Politikern, darunter
Bundeskanzler Gerhard Schroder (SPD), kritisiert worden. Turkische
Zeitungen berichteten am Mittwoch, Staatspräsident Sezer prufe ein
Veto gegen das neue Strafrecht. Grund sei ein Strafrechtsparagraf,
der fur Betreiber illegaler Korankurse lediglich Geldstrafen statt
Gefängnis vorsieht. Sezer ist ein Gegner der islamisch geprägten
Erdogan-Regierung.
–Boundary_(ID_5dcmo6PkDafTGG/bsSpTaQ)–

Armenian security service says ombudsman office employee’s arrest lawful
Arminfo
30 May 05
Yerevan, 30 May: The Armenian National Security Service [NSS] has
issued a statement to explain the circumstances of the arrest of
an employee of the ombudsman office of the Republic of Armenia,
Serob Antinyan.
Some media outlets in Armenia circulated a statement on 28 May by
Armenian Ombudsman Larisa Alaverdyan in which she expressed protest at
the acts of NSS officers who arrested the employee of the ombudsman’s
office, Serob Antinyan, and confiscated his computer, a source in
the press service of the NSS told Arminfo. Alaverdyan regarded the
arrest as an attempt to censor the activities of the ombudsman and
to study classified documents.
In this regard, the press service of the NSS finds it necessary to
explain that Antinyan’s apprehension and all the related actions were
carried out in accordance with the Criminal Code of Armenia, while the
mentioned computer was impounded in the presence of Antinyan himself
and his lawyer Zh. Khachatryan. Only the documents concerning his
case were impounded and the computer was returned to the ombudsman’s
office immediately. It is necessary to note that the fuss kicked
up in this regard is unfounded since, like all government bodies,
the ombudsman’s office is also to abide by Armenian laws and the
principle of equality of all before the law enshrined in the Armenian
Constitution. The ombudsman’s office cannot be given any privilege
in these circumstances, the statement said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CHARLES AZNAVOUR VISITS SAMTSKHE-JAVAKHETI
AKHALKALAKI, MAY 31. ARMINFO. International known French singer
Charles Aznavour has visited the mostly Armenian region of Georgia
Samtskhe-Javakheti.
A-INFO reports that Aznavour visited Akhaltskhe and met with local
residents. The plenipotentiary representative of the Georgian
president to the region Georgy Khachidze said that Aznavour’s visit
to Akhaltskhe was a great honor for the local residents. Aznavour
was granted the title of Akhaltskhe honorary citizen. He said that
he was happy to receive such a warm welcome. “I am happy to have come
to the homeland of my ancestors. Akhaltskhe is a native town to me,”
he said promising to come again. In Akhaltskhe Aznavour visited the
house of his grandfather.

BRITISH AIRWAYS INCREASES FLIGHTS TO YEREVAN 20% DUE TO GROWTH OF AVIATION MARKET OF ARMENIA
YEREVAN, MAY 31. ARMINFO. In summer season British Airways is
increasing the frequency of its London-Yerevan-London flights starting
from June 18 up to 6 flights weekly, Director for Sales of British
Airways Office in Yerevan Suren Avagyan told journalists today.
The flights are carried out by airbuses A321 and A320. Avagyan added
that British Airways had operated in Armenia since 1997 and started
direct flights London-Yerevan-London three times in a week in 2003.
Avagyan thinks that the increase in the number of flights is connected
with the growth of the market of air transportation in Armenia,
which conditioned 15-20% growth of air transportation of British
Airways in the first quarter of 2005. He did not mention the number
of the passengers served by the company in Yerevan, just saying that
the company’s planes contain 124-149 seats and the load is 60%. “The
given step of British Airways is directed at satisfaction of the
demand of the Armenian market of air transportation,” Avagyan said.
In response to the question of ARMINFO’s correspondent regarding the
plans of the Yerevan office of the company to attract transit air
passengers to Yerevan, Avagyan said that British Airways is ready to
cooperate with any company having production identical to the quality
and safety of the services it provides. “At present, there is no such
interaction for lack of relevant demand,” Avagyan said.
To note, the national air carrier of Armenia – Armavia company
also exploits four Airbuses A320. Simultaneously it forms demand
for transit air transportation in Yerevan and plans to increase the
number of transit passengers in the airport Zvartnots in 2005 by 50%
– to 30,000 passengers. In 2004 the market of air transportation in
Armenia grew 20% – to 1,05 mln passengers.

CE VENICE COMMISSION FULFILLS POLITICAL ORDER: ARMENIAN PARLIAMENTARIAN
YEREVAN, MAY 31. ARMINFO. “Making such a strong and categorical
statement on the project of Armenia’s constitutional reforms, the
CE Venice commission fulfilled a definite political order”, stated
the leader of the ARFD faction Levon Lazarian in an interview to
ARMINFO’s reporter.
In his words, this strong estimation is conditioned by the aspiration
of the CE to keep parity between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Lazarian
noted that the Venice commission has no power to make such a
categorical conclusion comprised of political estimation. “It is
strange that the Venice commission conferred exceptionally with legal
functions made a political estimation to Armenia’s constitutional
amendments when this document is being elaborated and cannot be
changed cardinally from the first to the second reading in Parliament”,
he stated.
Lazarian stressed that issues concerned with the forthcoming Jun
1 visit of Commission’s experts to Armenia, as well as the text of
Commission’s conclusion were discussed during May 30 meeting with
Armenia’s President Robert Kocharyan.
Authors of constitutional amendments’ project were surprised by that
conclusion as they themselves expressed readiness to discuss and
find solutions concerning provisions on which the Venice commission
presented such a strong estimation afterwards. For example, they are
ready to withdraw from the document a provision noted that mayor of
Yerevan is appointed by president.
“We think that it is no need to fix the issue on status of Yerevan
mayor in the Constitution, it may be solved by a special law”,
Maktrchyan stated. In his words, the project’s authors also intend
to elaborate provisions concerning both rights and powers of local
self-government bodies and the appointment of judges and prosecutors.
Lazarian noted that the project of Armenia’s constitutional amendments
will be adopted at the second reading – till June 24 PACE session.
To note, main remarks in the Venice commission’s conclusion concerned
with the order of forming both the government and the justice
council, dissolution of parliament, appointment and dismissal of
prime ministers, judges and prosecutors, the issue on president’s
participation at governmental sittings, as well as the appointment of
Yerevan mayor. The Venice experts will arrive in Armenia to discuss
in detail the project of constitutional amendments offered by ruling
coalition. -r-

NKR PRIME MINISTER RECEIVED REPRESENTATIVES OF FRENCH BRANCH OF “HAYASTAN” ALL-ARMENIAN FUND ARRIVED IN STEPANAKERT
STEPANAKERT, MAY 31. ARMINFO. NKR Prime Minister Anushavan Danielyan
received today representatives of the French branch of “Hayastan”
(Armenia) All-Armenian Fund.
As ARMINFO’s reporter in Stepanakert informs, Danielyan noted a
role of Diaspora in liquidation of war consequences, reconstruction
of dwelling, and solution of social and economic problems in the
republic. On behalf of NKR authorities he expressed gratitude to both
French authorities and people for their contribution to country’s
development.
Danielyan answered questions guests were interested in, in particular,
concerning country’s internal and external policy and Karabakh
conflict settlement. “NKR has all abilities for creating a free,
fair and democratic state, all our nation will be proud of”, he noted.
Answering a question on the European Constitution referendum, Danielyan
noted that if the European Constitution is put on referendum in several
other countries of “the Old Europe” as well, France would be hardly
a single amongst those voted “against”. -r-

PUTIN’S GREETINGS CONVEYED TO KOCHARYAN
A1plus
| 18:14:17 | 31-05-2005 | Official |
Today Robert Kocharyan received head of the Russian presidential
administration Dmitry Medvedev. The parties discussed the present stage
of the Armenian-Russian cooperation and specifically the expansion
of economic ties.
Robert Kocharyan noted the dynamic development of the Armenian-Russian
relations especially in view of active Russian investments in the
Armenian economy.
Dmitry Medvedev conveyed to the Armenian President Vladimir Putin’s
greetings and informed that certain work has been carried out for
the realization of agreements achieved during the Presidents’ meeting
in March.

PUTIN ENCOURAGES CONSTRUCTIVE DECISIONS
A1plus
| 17:37:53 | 31-05-2005 | Official |
Today Secretary of the national Security Council under the RA
President, Defense Minister, Co-Chair of the Armenian-Russian
Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation Serge Sarsgyan
received the delegation led by head of the Russian presidential
administration Dmitry Medvedev.
The parties noted that the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin
has become an additional stimulus for more constructive settlement of
a number of problems. As for the present level of the Armenian-Russian
economic cooperation, the Minister noted that presently about 160
intergovernmental and interdepartmental treaties and agreements are
being implemented.
The meeting participants have outlined principal directions for
further cooperation and pointed out to the necessity of activating
the Armenian-Russian traditional cultural and humanitarian ties.

HEADS OF PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATIONS MET
A1plus
| 17:05:26 | 31-05-2005 | Official |
RA Presidential administration head Artashes Tumanyan and head of
the Russian presidential administration Dmitry Medvedev met today
to discuss a number of issues referring to the Armenian-Russian
cooperation.
Specifically, the parties noted the necessity of launching the
enterprises conveyed to Russia within Property for Debt agreement as
well as a number regional economic programs including the Iran-Armenia
gas pipeline.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RUSSIA INTERESTED IN DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES IN ARMENIA
A!plus
| 18:12:44 | 31-05-2005 | Official |
Today Armenian National Assembly Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan received
head of the Russian presidential department for interregional and
cultural ties with foreign states Modest Kolerov.
M. Kolerov informed the NA chairman that he has met with
members of parliamentary groups and factions to find out their
opinion on the democratic processes in Armenia, elections of the
local self-government, constitutional changes and conduction of
referenda. On his request Arthur Baghdasaryan presented in detail
the issues referring to draft of constitutional amendments and
referendum noting that the legislative changes in Armenia are aimed
at democratization of the republic and adoption of laws corresponding
to the international standards.
The parties also discussed the regional issues pointing out to the
necessity of cooperation in various fields.